The Why Leave Town Gunnedah Gift Card initiative has been been renamed Gunny Money and cards covering almost 100 local businesses are available in store or online.

Council's economic development manager Charlotte Hoddle said Gunny Money was an amazing way to spread the love in the festive season.

"You can give a gift that will suit anybody, and the money will stay within our community; that is particularly critical during tough economic times," she said.

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Ms Hoddle said there was no purchase price or transaction fee when gift cards ere purchased in the shire and they could be redeemed at "a huge variety of businesses, from cafes, motels and hotels, to gift stores, vets [and] hairdressers".

"You just need to go to one of the participating purchase points, buy your gift card and have it loaded with the appropriate amount," she said.

Staying local for your Christmas shopping has an added incentive for the month of December, with the chance to win one of five $100 Gunny Money gift cards.

The council is also urging residents to join the Shop Gunnedah campaign by posting photos of locally purchased Christmas gifts and adding the business name and tag #shopgunnedah.

"Gunny Money and Shop Gunnedah are both fun and very practical ideas to keep our economy humming," Ms Hoddle said.

"Gunnedah has some amazing businesses offering wonderful products and services. This Christmas, if we can give gifts from our own shire, we are giving much more than just the present.

"Get online and show off just what is available in Gunnedah shire."

Gunny Money Gift Cards can be purchased at: Gunnedah Shire Council, Enchanted on Conadilly, Goodness & Gracious, Gunnedah Locksmiths, Gunnedah Newsagency, Gunnedah Visitors Information Centre, Karen Carter Chemist and The Verdict Café.

Cards can also be purchased online at www.whyleavetown.com/gunnedah and are valid for three years from the purchase date.